Beauty and the Beast Trailer Compared to the Animated Version

When the first trailer for Disney’s live-action Beauty and the Beast dropped online yesterday (at the time of writing this), it was quickly doing the rounds on the Internet gaining overwhelmingly positive comments. It’s fair to say that for now, at least any qualms people had over Disney remaking one of their best-loved classics have been laid to rest. The trailer was heart-warming, perfectly capturing the Disney magic that the animated film gave us upon its release in 1991.

Disney have described their live-action Beauty and the Beast as a ‘reimaginging’ or ‘retelling’ of their original movie, and certainly the trailer hinted at the film being a true homage to the animated version, but now we can really see just how much. Youtube user StudiOrbit have put the two teasers for the films side by side, and the similarities are clear. Take a look, above.

Both trailers open with a snowy castle shot, and in both Alan Menken’s beautiful haunting piano melody can be heard. Interior shots are also the same, though obviously one is live-action. Even the whispered dialogue between Cogsworth and Lumiere (Ian McKellen and Ewan McGregor, respectively) remains more or less the same. The one major difference, and one that is really to be expected, is that the original animated teaser gave us a clear shot at Belle as she approaches the enchanted rose, whereas the live-action version gives us no more than a brief glimpse of Emma Watson’s Belle and even then, her face is partially obscured by the rose.

Of course, seeing Watson as Belle is what we’re all waiting for; indeed, it’s fair to say people are clamoring for the first shots of any cast member but especially her, so Disney are smart to keep things under wraps for a little bit longer. As well as the all-star cast in costumes, fans are also anxious to hear their vocals. In keeping with their focus on ‘reimagining’, Disney have used the original Alan Menken and Howard Ashman’s score, meaning we will be listening to songs that many of us have grown up with, now being sung by actors that nearly all of us are familiar with. As well as the original music, Menken has also written new songs for the film (Ashman died 1991 shortly before Beauty and the Beast was released).

Beauty and the Beast will star the aforementioned Watson, McKellen, and McGregor, alongside Dan Stevens, Emma Thompson, Kevin Kline, Luke Evans, Josh Gad, and Stanley Tucci. Bill Condon (Twilight) directs from a script by Stephen Chbosky and Evan Spiliotopolous, based on the original script written by Linda Woolverton.

For now, the stage is set for more magic to be slowly unveiled in subsequent trailers – and, given that Beauty and the Beast has smashed the record previously held by Star Wars: The Force Awakens for the most trailer views in 24 hours, it seems safe to assume we will all happily be Disney’s guests when the movie finally makes its debut next year.